Chapter 17 #2
As Stella approached them, she saw that the books appeared to be historical fiction novels about World War II.
Jack and the man were discussing the Battle of the Bulge.
How strange was it for Jack to talk about a war he’d been part of, even if only in a novel?
Did it stir up difficult memories? Could he picture the faces of the other soldiers and friends he’d lost? Did he feel like a man out of time?
Soon he would be out of time. A pang of sadness followed.
Jack noticed her on the periphery and a slow smile changed his face. She wanted to linger in that space of being seen by him.
“Hey, Stella,” he said. “This is Thomas Linden. He’s a local author with a passion for World War II.”
Stella shook Thomas’s hand and introduced herself. “We’re happy you’re here. Please let us know if you need anything or have
any questions about the festival. We appreciate your support.”
“Happy to be here,” Thomas said.
“Please excuse us.” Stella grabbed Jack’s arm and pulled him aside into the privacy of an aisle between bookshelves. “Is that
weird? Talking about the war?”
Jack glanced back at Thomas, who was arranging his books. “It’s strange, but I’m thankful for men like Thomas who are still
interested in sharing our history with others so soldiers aren’t forgotten.”
Her dad had said something similar, which was another reason he’d created the care packages for soldiers. She leaned her head
against Jack’s shoulder. “How could anyone forget you?”
Jack tucked a curl behind her ear.
Stella patted her hair, feeling the frizz creeping outward. “It’s out of control today. All the humidity.”
Jack grinned. “I like it. How’re you holding up? From what I can tell, the setup is running smoothly.”
He followed her to the circulation desk. “I’m going to the deli to grab lunch for me and the rest of the crew. Can I bring
something back for you?” She grabbed her purse.
Jack hooked one finger around her purse strap. “Could I walk with you?”
Stella glanced toward the library’s front doors. In the past forty-eight hours, she had broken all kinds of rules. “Arnie told me to keep everyone in the library. I know we only went to his place, but is town too far? Are we pushing the limits?”
“Arnie’s let me outside a few times.”
“Off the grounds?”
Jack reached for her hand. “No, but you could protect me.”
Stella laughed. “From what?”
He tugged her close. “From getting lost. Come on, Stella. It’d be sweet to see the town.” He placed a quick kiss on her neck,
and her knees wobbled.
She rolled her eyes. “No fair.” But she leaned into him. “I doubt you going into town with me would upset Arnie more than
knowing that a drunken Hook tried to lure a book club member into his captain’s quarters. Come on, dreamboat.”
Jack’s laugh filled the foyer, and Stella marveled at this new woman who was evolving inside her. She pushed open the library’s
front doors and nearly ran into Dana Cannon. She had a canvas bag slung over her shoulder and wore a ball cap emblazoned with
the name of a local Little League team.
“Dana,” Stella said as she held the door open, “I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.”
Dana smiled as her gaze shifted toward Jack. Her expression said, I bet I know where your attention was.
“Looks like festival preparations are in full swing,” she said. “I’m looking forward to it tomorrow. Arnie and the committee
always do the best job with it. Can I return the books I checked out about Wildflower Hill?”
“Of course,” Stella said. “The library isn’t open for normal activities”—she glanced into the foyer—“even though it’s full
of activity. But I don’t mind returning these for you.”
Dana reached into her canvas bag. “Thank you for suggesting Fried Green Tomatoes. I’d forgotten how much I loved it.”
Stella’s chest filled with warmth. She quickly glanced at Jack, wanting to tell him that she’d called forth the words on purpose and helped Dana find this book.
Dana continued, “I also hoped I could talk with Arnie about the books. Do you think he’d have a few minutes to spare? I’m
sure he’s busy today, but it wouldn’t take long.”
Stella’s shoulders sagged. “Arnie isn’t here today.” When Dana’s smile slipped right off her face, Stella added, “But if he
were, he would definitely take the time to talk with you. He suffered a heart attack a couple nights ago, and he’s still in
the hospital.”
Dana gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. Her green eyes opened wide over the tops of her fingers. When she lowered
her hands, her bottom lip trembled. “Is he going to be okay?”
Stella reached out to touch Dana’s arm briefly. “Yes, and he promised me that he’ll be right as rain ASAP. He’s already feeling
better, but it’s customary to keep a heart attack patient in the hospital for at least a few days.”
Dana dropped the novel back into her bag and then gripped the straps of her canvas bag with both hands. “Can he have visitors?”
“Yes,” Stella said.
Puffy white words floated out of Dana’s bag and lifted into the air. Comfort. Chances. Kindness. “Does he need anything? Could I bring him something?”
The warmth continued to spread through Stella at seeing Dana’s words. She caught Jack’s gaze before his eyes flitted to the
words too. If only Arnie knew how much goodness Dana wanted to share with him. An idea popped into Stella’s mind.
“He’s suffering on the hospital food diet, but he loves white chocolate macadamia nut cookies. I bet if you smuggled in a few of those, you’d win his heart forever.”
A lovely, hopeful smile lifted Dana’s cheeks, and Stella was struck by her beauty. Dana would never be described as dainty
or frilly like some women. She was capable and sturdy and strong—a marvelous fit for Arnie.
An inner joy lit her green eyes. “I have a wonderful recipe for white chocolate macadamia nut cookies from my grandma. I’ll
drop off my books and scurry back home. I have baking to do.”
Dana said goodbye and disappeared into the crowded library, and Stella and Jack headed down the concrete stairs toward the
sidewalk.
“Arnie is going to be beside himself when she shows up,” Stella laughed. “He’ll freak out at first and he might even babble,
but then she’ll distract him with the cookies, and before he realizes what’s happening, they’ll be having a normal conversation.”
Jack slipped his hand into Stella’s. “Clever of you to send her with his favorite cookies.”
Stella leaned her head against Jack’s arm. “He needs a little push. I guess we all do sometimes.”
Jack chuckled. “Have you been pushed recently?”
“Ha! More like shoved right off a cliff,” she said and stopped walking. “A few days ago I realized I’ve been stuck in a cycle
of monotony. Not unhappy but not fulfilled. Then—bam!—I burn a journal, words start appearing like mad, those purple words start pushing me toward something, I learn I can command
the words, Arnie has a heart attack, I meet you, I unleash a pirate and a sailor into the library—”
“Don’t forget Percy catching you indecent with a man in Arnie’s house.”
Stella laughed. “His face, though. I wish I had a photo of how flabbergasted he was. I wasn’t actively wishing for change, but maybe, like Arnie, I needed a shove. I just didn’t intend for it to be so jarring.”
“So what’s next for Stella Parker?”
Waves of heat rippled up from the black pavement, blurring the edges of everything and giving the town a magical appearance
like an image pulled from a summer dream.
“Definitely not Miami,” she said. “But I might give extended education or certification serious thought.” She peered at him.
“The idea of writing and completing something feels exciting, using my words in a way I’ve been doing for years but more intentionally
and focused. Now that I can call them forth, what’s stopping me from creating a whole lot of things? And I can help connect
readers with the perfect book. And with the magic, if Arnie allows me to use it officially, even more possibilities arise.”
She stopped when she noticed Jack was staring and smiling at her with a goofy grin. “What?”
“You,” he said. “You look happy, Stella.”
She couldn’t see her expression, but she felt the truth of his words, effervescent and swirling with gratitude. Somehow she’d
dropped the heaviness she’d been dragging around, and there was space for lightness and—she smiled at Jack—for falling in
love. “I am happy.”
A neon-pink van emblazoned with the words Fur Real Dog Grooming parked against the curb. Ariel waved through the window and hopped out, then hurried to join them on the sidewalk. Always
a blaze of color, today she wore a set of scrubs covered in a rainbow of pawprints. Her blond hair was pulled into a high
ponytail, showcasing her pink stripe.
“Where are you heading?” she asked. “I figured it would be nutso in the library today with festival setup.” She leaned forward into Stella’s space like someone with a secret to share. “What’s the update on the pirate situation? And why are the two of you looking so glowy? Did something—”
“We’re going to the deli,” Stella said quickly, “and Frost Bites to get lunch for the library crew and ourselves. We haven’t
found Hook yet, but we have people on the lookout.”
Ariel’s forehead creased. “People? What people?”
Jack said, “Darcy and Crusoe.”
Ariel frowned. “And they are?”
“Fictional characters,” Stella said, bracing for Ariel’s response.
Ariel laughed but stopped when she realized Stella wasn’t joking. “Oh, you’re serious. Wait. You don’t mean”—she clutched
Stella’s arm—“Fitzwilliam Darcy.” Stella nodded, and Ariel squealed. “Is he as dreamy as we hoped?”
Jack looked pointedly at Stella. “Are you interested in Darcy?”
Ariel scoffed. “Not a chance with you around. Can I meet him?”
Stella waffled. “Possibly.”
Ariel bounced on her toes. “I wonder if he’s interested in girls with pink hair. But you’re ignoring the glowy comment?” Stella